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In economic theory, firms are often assumed to maximise profits. However, in the real world, not all firms strictly follow profit maximisation. Some firms have other objectives beyond just maximising profits. Such types of firms include state-owned welfare-maximising firms and joint-stock income-per-unit-of-capital-maximising firms. In the realm of economic theory literature, economists often delve into the behaviour of state-owned public firms, while the behaviour of joint-stock private firms receives comparatively less attention. This paper examines an international mixed duopoly game where a state-owned public firm competes against a foreign joint-stock private firm. The game unfolds in two stages. In the first stage, each firm independently and simultaneously decides whether to offer lifetime employment as a strategic commitment device. If a firm offers this strategic commitment device, it selects an output level and enters into a lifetime employment contract with the necessary number of employees to achieve the output level. In the second stage, each firm independently and simultaneously chooses its actual output. Analysis of the international mixed duopoly model reveals that there exists an equilibrium in which the state-owned firm offers lifetime employment while the foreign joint-stock firm does not. Consequently, aggressive actions by the state-owned firm against the foreign joint-stock firm can lead to domestic social welfare maximisation.

Keywords: Foreign joint-stock firm; International mixed duopoly; Lifetime employment; State-owned firm.
JEL classification: C72, D21, F23, L30

In the year 2020, the entire world is slumped by a COVID-19 pandemic, resulting in lockdowns, social distancing, economic slowdown and financial setbacks. All these have adversely affected the Indian economy and have made the lives of the common man in the country miserable. The COVID-19 crisis has seriously hampered almost all the businesses irrespective of their size and reputation. Despite this pessimistic situation, there are few Indian startups that are growing well and playing a critical role in the economy by helping the country to shift towards fully digital work environment, run educational courses, ensure the availability of FMCGs and even in terms of innovation in health services and medical field. A startup is an entrepreneurial venture that has been launched recently, where founders attempt to develop an innovative as well as technology driven product or service This article examines the impact of COVID-19 pandemic on startup sector in the state of Kerala and analyse strategies adopted by the Government of Kerala and Kerala Startup Mission (KSUM) during COVID-19 pandemic for the startup sector in the state. To analyse the problems faced by startup units in Kerala during the pandemic and to gather the opinion of startup founders on strategies adopted by the Government of Kerala and KSUM to overcome the crises, the primary data was collected from 60 startup founders from three districts in the state The paper also examines secondary data collected from the website of KSUM and various other E-resources. The study finds that the strategies adopted by the Government of Kerala and KSUM have helped the startups to stay afloat and grow during the pandemic.

Though COVID-19 has slowed down businesses in many sectors, it has also opened new opportunites, especially in areas like healthtech, wellness, and edutech.

Keywords: Startups, COVID-19, Pandemic, Lockdown, Economic Slowdown, Financial Setback, FMCGs

This paper presents a detailed analysis of India’s progress towards achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) from 2017 to 2024, with a particular focus on the impact of climate change on key developmental targets. By evaluating crucial indicators, the study examines the connections between climate change and the SDGs, highlighting how environmental challenges affect the realization of these goals. It also outlines the necessary actions to mitigate the negative effects of climate change, ensuring sustained progress toward the SDGs despite environmental disruptions.

The paper explores how climate-related disruptions, including extreme weather and agricultural challenges, impede SDG progress. It calls for robust climate adaptation and mitigation strategies, with a focus on renewable energy, climate-resilient infrastructure, and equitable access to resources. The findings emphasize the need for continued efforts to build a climate-resilient future and integrate climate action into broader development goals.

Keywords: Climate Change, Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), International Cooperation, Climate Resilience

The paper aims to explore the internal and external factors that influence inflation in Bangladesh during FY 2011 to FY 2023. The data has been gathered from the Bangladesh Bank's Statistics Department's Monthly Economic Trends and the World Bank pink sheet. It employs an autoregressive distributed lag (ARDL) model to examine the consequences of explanatory variables on the inflation in Bangladesh. The model uses the monthly CPI index to represent the inflation in the Bangladesh economy. Results from ARDL bounds test display that the variables are co-integrated as well as the regressors have a significant impact on inflation in Bangladesh in the both short and long run. Moreover, inflation in Bangladeshis heavily influenced by broad money supply (M2) and Lending rate (LR). In the long run, a 1% rise in M2 will lead to a 30% drive of inflation in Bangladesh. On the other hand, inflation decreases by 38% due to a 1% rise in Lending rate. So, M2 and LR both are the major drivers of inflation in Bangladesh throughout the sample period. Finally, the policy implications of the study propose that government would have to take fiscal policy in coordination with the Monetary Policy as well as focus on non-economic factors like syndicate, hoarding, geopolitical environments etc. along with economic factors to curb inflation in Bangladesh.

Keywords: Inflation, Money supply, Lending rate and ARDL.
JEL classification: E31, E51, E59.

The issues experienced in the Sri Lankan rice industry can be addressed through transaction cost economics (TCE) theory. Therefore, descriptive research with an epistemological perspective was conducted to examine the applicability of TCE to explore the root causes of the issues and to identify challenges. Focus group discussions, interviews with the main stakeholders, and a questionnaire survey were conducted. The results suggested the ineffectiveness of certain policy implementations due to the opportunistic actions of key players in the industry or key players taking an opportunity to manipulate the market was the root cause. Hence, the government intervention is to be strengthened to enable the market forces to decide the equilibrium price and supply. Personal biases of respondents might be a limitation and proposed new strategies for successful policy implementation. The novelty in this study is the use of TCE which has not yet been studied in the Sri Lankan context.

Keywords: Asset Specificity, Bounded Rationality, Opportunism, Transaction Costs Economics
JEL Code: D 21, D 23

Climate-smart agriculture (CSA) is a sustainable approach that increases agricultural productivity and income while building resilience to climate change. By reducing greenhouse gas emissions, CSA contributes to climate mitigation. Key strategies include developing climate-resistant crop varieties, identifying vulnerable regions for strategic relocation, and utilizing early warning systems to minimize weather-related losses.

Computer models help predict climate impacts and inform the development of effective CSA practices. This research emphasizes the urgent need for policymakers to address climate change threats to agriculture.

By exploring risk management and insurance strategies, we aim to strengthen economic resilience. Our value chain approach focuses on interconnected climate adaptation strategies. For instance, in Northern Egypt, we address sea level rise through laser land leveling to reduce saline groundwater. In Upper Egypt, we optimize cropping patterns to adapt to rising temperatures. By leveraging the Strategic Global Climate Change Adaptation Preparedness Plan, our research seeks to combat drought. Implementing these optimized cropping patterns is projected to significantly increase farm profits, reduce water usage, lower CO2 emissions, and decrease energy consumption in both existing and new agricultural lands across Egypt.

Implementing optimal cropping patterns is projected to significantly enhance agricultural sustainability in Egypt. Farm profits are expected to soar by 30.391% to 190.818%, while water usage, CO2 emissions, and energy consumption will decrease by an average of 28.159%, 28.180%; 20.582%, 22.840% and 23.654%, 28.546% respectively, across both established and newly developed agricultural lands.

Keywords: Climate smart agriculture assessment (CSAA), environmental climate smart agriculture assessment (ECSAA) and environmentally extended input–output climate smart agriculture analysis (EEI-OCSAA) as a value chains.